By Steve Holt, Copy Editor

Even more than a Whitman’s Sampler or soap-on-a-rope this Valentine’s Day, head track and field coach Jon Murray wants to bring home 18 automatic nationals qualifiers from the Tyson Foods Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

He is taking his 22 best athletes to the elite indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Complex on the campus of the No. 1 University of Arkansas to attempt to qualify or better their times against professional and Division I talent.

Freshman Yuliya Stashkiv qualified in the mile at the Red Raider Open Jan. 25, and she will try to do the same in the women’s 5,000 meters Friday. Stashkiv is seeded No. 1 in the event, and will be challenged by Arkansas star Christin Wurth, the No. 2 seed. Murray said she should run under 17 minutes but will be pushed.

“This is going to be a challenge for her,” Murray said. “But she has the credentials to be the best distance runner we’ve ever had.”

Another athlete competing in her event for the first time is sophomore Sofi Hildenborg, who looks to qualify in the women’s 400-meter dash.

Headlining the men’s field are Manuel Brandenborn and Shai Shalev in the men’s shot put, seeded second and seventh, respectively. Both have already qualified automatically for nationals in the event.

Two other previous automatic qualifiers, Nic Alexander and Christie Van Wyk, will compete for in the men’s 60-meter dash bragging rights to call themselves two of the best in the nation .

Murray said both 4×400-meter relay teams will compete for the first time with their best athletes, giving both squads a good chance of qualifying.

“Our women’s 4×400 will be one of the best we have had in a while,” Murray said.

Senior high jumper Maresa Cadienhead is seeded first in her event, and looks to improve her season best mark with a win in Fayetteville.

Other universities participating include powerhouses Arkansas, Kansas, Texas, Kentucky, Auburn, TCU, Florida, Baylor and Mississippi.

Events will begin Friday at 10:30 a.m. and continue through the invitational and Olympic Development events on Saturday.